Why the in-form Cullen Grace was only a late call-up for the Maori All Blacks
Cullen Grace made his All Blacks debut in 2020 following a breakout season for the Crusaders.
The blockbusting loose forward was attributed with the hardest shoulders in the country by coach Scott Robertson and was rewarded with a spot in the first squad of Ian Foster’s regime as head honcho of the New Zealand national side.
Grace managed just one solitary appearance off the bench in the six-match season, however, and after a bout of second-season syndrome in 2021, wasn’t recalled for last year’s international calendar. Injury struck the 22-year-old ahead of the NPC season, sidelining him for the entirety of Canterbury’s campaign, putting an end to any chance Grace had of earning recall late in the year.
2022 has seen Grace take some mammoth strides forward for the Crusaders, with the youngster earning 15 appearances for the Super Rugby Pacific champions – 13 of which were in the number 8 jersey.
The All Blacks squad was named ahead of the grand final where Grace was instrumental in tearing apart the Blues’ lineout and paving the way to a Crusaders victory but had Foster announced his team a week later, perhaps Grace would have forced his way into the side on the back of his season-defining performance at Eden Park.
Despite missing out on the national side, however, Grace still has an opportunity to press his case at a higher level and has been called into the Maori All Blacks squad ahead of their two-match series with Ireland.
That came as somewhat of a surprise, given Grace missed out entirely on the Maori All Blacks squad that was named last year – despite being fit and available when the team was selected.
Thankfully, coach Maori Clayton McMillan cleared up some of the confusion surrounding Grace earlier this week.
“We’re robust in how we go about ensuring that everybody who plays in the team has gone through an eligibility process,” McMillan told media on Thursday. “All players must have Maori whakapapa or genealogy confirmed in order to represent the side.
“We found out, fairly late, that Cullen was eligible. We’ve been through that process and found that he’s as Maori as I am.”
As such, Grace has now been summoned into the team alongside halfback Sam Nock and lock Max Hicks.
Had Grace’s genealogy been confirmed last year, it’s likely he would have been included in a side that earned two hard-fought wins over Samoa – but this year he’ll get to showcase his talents against Ireland’s mid-week squad, who will undoubtedly leave no stone unturned on the field in order to fight their way into the first-choice 23 to take on the All Blacks.
For Grace and a host of other players on the cusp of New Zealand’s national squad, such as halfbacks TJ Perenara and Brad Weber, the two-match series with Ireland offers a similar opportunity, with places in the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship squad still up for contention.
“He’s played great rugby all year, is a recent All Black, and this is a vehicle we hope will help promote not only Cullen, but every other member of our team, to higher honours,” said McMillan.
Grace will be competing with the likes of Reed Prinsep, Caleb Delany, TK Howden, Cameron Suafoa and Billy Harmon for a spot in the side to take on Ireland in the first match of their two-game series next Wednesday. If Super Rugby form is the bar, it’s hard to imagine the 22-year-old not being one of the first names on the team sheet.
Comments on RugbyPass
This team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to comments